Former Sun Devil Barry Bonds’ legal troubles have been well documented but up to this point he has escaped punishment. The key part of that phrase is up to this point.

The Federal government has found the key piece to their case against Bonds and he also happens, like Barry, to have ties to baseball here in the Valley.

The Feds key witness will be former Major League catcher Bobby Estalella. According to reports Estalella, Barry’s teammate in 2001-2002, has firsthand knowledge of Bonds’ steroid use.

Estalella, who was on the San Francisco Giants with Bonds in 2000 and 2001, is expected to testify to firsthand knowledge that Bonds used steroids, ESPN reported, citing an unidentified source with knowledge of the evidence. ESPN attributed knowledge of the subpoenas to two unidentified sources.

The book “Game of Shadows,” by two Chronicle reporters, says Estalella received a drug schedule from Greg Anderson, Bonds’ trainer, advising him to use human growth hormone, the steroids “the cream” and “the clear,” and the female fertility drug Clomid.

If Estalella’s name sounds familiar it’s probably because he was on the Diamondbacks roster for part of the 2004 campaign. The D-Backs were one of six teams he played for in nine major league seasons.

Report: Estalella To Testify Against Bonds [San Francisco Chronicle]
Estalella To Support Case Vs. Bonds [ESPN]
Meet The Man Who Will Testify Against Barry Bonds [Deadspin]